The big rematch between Spain and Netherlands has come around quickly. The teams that played in the final of the last World Cup meet again on Day 2 in Brazil.

The 2014 tournament kicked off with host nation Brazil beating Croatia 3-1 after conceding an early own goal on Thursday. The Group B clash between defending champion Spain and Netherlands is one of three games set for Friday.

With his trademark shadow-boxing routine at the corner flag, Australia forward Tim Cahill may provide one of the iconic goal celebrations at this World Cup.

And if anyone is going to score in Brazil for the tournament's lowest-ranked team, it's most likely going to be Cahill.

Wire stadium fences were being unfolded, new X-ray security machines were being unpacked at entrances and clouds of dust billowed across roads leading to the World Cup venue.

There appeared to be a desperate sense of urgency among construction workers as Arena Fonte Nova in Salvador was being prepared to host a Group B game on Friday, a rematch of Spain's victory over the Netherlands in the 2010 final.

Spanish midfielder Cesc Fabregas said Thursday he has signed for English Premier League club Chelsea from Barcelona.

"I considered all the other offers very carefully and I firmly believe that Chelsea is the best choice," the 27-year-old former Arsenal player said in a statement.

Roger Federer got his Wimbledon preparations fully underway on the grasscourts of Halle on Thursday, but he looked out of sorts before finally edging Portugal's Joao Sousa 6-7 (8/10), 6-4, 6-2 in a second round tie.

Playing for the first time since losing to Ernests Gulbis in the last 16 of the French Open, the six-time former winner of the German tournament started brightly but was soon on the backfoot against the improving Sousa.

The military junta that overthrew Thailand's elected government struck a blow for freedom Thursday — the freedom to watch football.

As part of its goal to "return happiness to the Thai people," the junta engineered a World Cup coup that will enable the country's many football fans to watch all of the tournament's 64 matches for free.

While there's hardly any doubt, FIFA President Sepp Blatter won't declare himself a candidate for re-election just yet.

He did reveal on Wednesday, though, how deeply hurt he was by hearing that European countries no longer want him in the role.

A confident Croatia is ready to spoil Brazil's party in their World Cup opener and continue a long tradition of first match upsets at the tournament.

With all the pressure on the host team, Croatia coach Niko Kovac said Wednesday that his team can deliver a "historic result" in Thursday's match in Sao Paulo.

Visibly dry, white stripes across the grass pitch at the Amazonian World Cup stadium have heightened concerns about the playing surface ahead of Saturday's key Group D match between Italy and England.

"Frankly, Manaus is in bad shape," Carlos Botella, head groundsman for the Royal Verd company which is responsible for the turf at Manaus and six other World Cup stadiums, told The Associated Press in a telephone interview on Wednesday. "We've started to implement an emergency plan to try to save the field and improve it as much as possible, but I don't think it'll be in good condition," by the weekend.

From the Amazon rainforest to Brazil's vast northeastern coast and bustling cities, throngs are gearing up to finally celebrate, and protest, the World Cup.

The tournament kicks off with Brazil taking on Croatia in the business hub of Sao Paulo on Thursday before teams from 32 nations criss-cross 11 other cities scattered across the massive South American country.